Recruiting Volunteer Health Mentors to lead the Check. Change. Control. Connecting Communities and Care program, participants and community partners is typically the most time consuming task. Set aside at least two months for recruitment efforts.
Recruit Volunteer Health Mentors
Volunteer Health Mentors play an important role in recruiting and enrolling participants, and holding those patients accountable throughout the program. Their primary responsibility is to connect with participants at least twice a month for a minimum of four consecutive months.
Volunteer Health Mentors can be anyone at your organization who is passionate about members’ health and the Check. Change. Control. Connecting Communities and Care project. Mentors do not have to be healthcare professionals, but should have strong communication skills and the dedication and time to devote to the program.
Meet one-on-one with individuals who may have interest in the role. Explain the purpose of the program and the impact mentors have, and ask them to help lead the program.
Recruit Community Partners
Community partners can include organizations and companies in the healthcare industry such as a pharmacies, local health departments, and fitness centers, as well as those outside of the healthcare industry that have a vested interest in their local community such as a faith-based organization, grocery store or school district.
Your community partners will help encourage your participants to check their blood pressure and make lifestyle changes that contribute to improved cardiovascular health. They may foster this connection by administering blood pressure checks at their locations, hosting health fairs, and more.
Recruiting Participants
Anyone can participate in Check. Change. Control. Connecting Communities and Care, including those who are pre-hypertensive (120-139/80-89 mm Hg), hypertensive (140/90 mm Hg or higher), and those who have normal blood pressure (less than 120/80 mm Hg). If you use the Heart360 tool to help track their blood pressure, all participants should have an email address, access to a computer and telephone, and be comfortable using the Internet.
With the help of a Volunteer Health Mentor, participants are responsible for taking their blood pressure at least eight times over the course of four consecutive months, entering their blood pressure in the reporting tool, such as Heart360, and meeting with their Volunteer Health Mentor at least twice a month.
Suggestions for recruiting participants include:
- Send an email to members to encourage them to participate. The Volunteer Health Mentor(s) could meet one-on-one with interested participants.
- Host an event, such as a health fair or kick-off rally to encourage members to enroll.
- Raise awareness for the program, posting flyers or brochures, or using social media platforms.
- Provide prize incentives, such as water bottles, exercise equipment or gift cards to encourage individuals to enroll and/or to reward participants upon program completion.
- Offer presentations on heart health or lifestyle topics, such as diet, fitness or healthy cooking.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Recruitment Guide (Coming soon!)
Recruitment Presentation (Coming soon!)